Those who truly know, love, and worship God obey Him as an expression of their love and relationship with Jesus (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6). These are abiding in Christ truly and will be persecuted for it!

Persecution for Christ’s sake is the occasion of great rejoicing! (Matthew 5:10-12)

PROOF that a person is divinely blessed – “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets” (Luke 6:22-23).

Ever look around you at those who are at ease, seeming to suffer little or nothing? Jesus addresses just that:

“But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:24-26 (also read Psalms 73)

YOU claim to be following Jesus and no one hates you??? Do you know Him? (Matthew 10:22; Luke 6:26)

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14  

Never mind the self-serving greedy wolves who teach people they are “blessed and highly favored” based on financial standing or just to go around for their own selfish glory! Jesus taught differently than these modern charlatans (2 Peter 2:1-3). The Son of God tells us that the proof of being blessed of Him is receiving persecution for His Name and Gospel’s sake! “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38 

When your life in Christ threatens Satan enough he will begin making up lies about you. He will attack in order to try to slow you down just like he did in the days of Nehemiah when they were building the wall. Like Nehemiah and his band of disciples, we are instrumental and being used of the Master to build His kingdom (1 (Corinthians 3:6-9).  When persecuted, “Rejoice”! – “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).  Always stand with your brothers and sisters when a “false report” comes up about them. In fact, expect that it will since Jesus promised it would! See Matthew 5:11. Never partake in any fashion with a “false report,” especially involving a member of Christ’s body (Exodus 23:1-2).

Not being attacked? Perhaps you should “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” See 2 Corinthians 13:5.

NEVER mock the man or woman of God who is being persecuted, slandered, and afflicted. You should envy them instead and wonder why more persecution isn’t coming your way, right? Kingdom perspective. “Examine yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

ONE of the reasons staying in God’s Word is so vital is because it keeps you in a kingdom mindset!

Clear Proof You are Not Saved

Does everyone love you?

Is that your goal?

Or, is your goal to please God?

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26

Those who are loved by the world are not saved. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19).

Jesus promised:

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22

IF your pastor or favorite celebrity preacher never mentions this warning from Jesus, you know you are being played and exploited by one of Satan’s wolves who are making merchandise of you (2 Peter 2:1-3)! Run!

“If the world ever starts talking good about me, I’m in trouble!” – CL

Proof of Salvation is Seen in the Fruit of Obedience – Good Works and Holy Living

So you claim to be Christ’s and yet spend all of your money, your resources on the god of self? What does this fruit reveal? (Matthew 6:19-24; 7:16)

As it was when John the Baptist preached to the false religionists of his day, lame moral coward counterfeits hate when they are called to man-up and render real repentance and the fruit of good works to prove it (Matthew 3:7-10).

JESUS never said to assess people by who THEY think THEY are or who they claim to be, but rather to know (discern) them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16, 20). As Christ foretold, there are so very “MANY” who believe they are saved yet their fruit says otherwise (Matthew 7:16, 20-29, etc.). Those who are not building their lives on the Word – adherence to it – are as sure for Hell as if they were already there, regardless of their own claim to be saved (Titus 1:16). “MANY” (not a few) will say “Lord, Lord” on Judgment day and will hear “depart from me” (Matthew 7:21-23).

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16

Beware of the lascivious grace-perverting wolves who will call this “works salvation.” As soon as God requires something of them – for them to truly repent and lay down their lives – it’s all of a sudden “works salvation,” legalistic preaching. SMH at the grace-perverting devils whom Jude warned us about and informed us are “ungodly men” (Jude 3-4).

The lascivious, “once saved always saved (OSAS)” and calvinistic devils tell others that God requires nothing at all of them after He saves them. But that is clearly a false gospel, another gospel, and they are “accursed” for preaching it (Galatians 1:6-9). Ridiculous. In His Word the LORD gives us initial and ongoing personal responsibilities which if not met, one loses out (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 25:1-13, etc.). Jesus commanded those He saves to “abide” – to remain in Him to the end or perish (John 15:1-6).

Read your King James Bible daily and discover the myriad of divine truths that modern beguilers refuse to preach. You are personally responsible and will be brought into full accountability for such at the judgment soon to come. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).

Persecution

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